Adjustable support for table drop leaf



Feb. 3, 1959 Filed June 1'7, 1957 T. G. WALTER ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT AFOR TABLE DROP LEAF 2 Sheets-Sheet l a, r" u liv-E? INVEN TOR. fm1/4S 6 14W raf/P,

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Feb. 3, 1959 Filed June 17, 1957 T. G. WALTER ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR TABLE 'DROP LEAF' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ma/,4s 6. lm 751?,

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United State ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR TABLE DROP LEAF Thomas G. Walter, Wabash, Ind., assignor to B. Walter & Company, Inc., Wabash, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application `lune 17, 1957, Serial No. 666,175

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-65) tent O to a bracket construction which facilitates adjustment of its mounting upon an associated element.

It is conventional, in drop-leaf table construction, to provide a leaf support which comprises, essentially, a bracket adapted to be secured to a fixed element of the table, a second bracket adapted to be secured to the undersurface of the hinged leaf, and brace means of one sort or another adapted to extend operatively between the brackets to support the leaf, at times, as a horizontal extension of the table top. It is conventional, as well, to use, as the brace means, a toggle linkage comprising two levers hinged together at their adjacent ends and hinged, respectively, to the above-mentioned brackets at their distal ends.A It is customary to mount such support assemblies on the table parts at the factory in such relation that, when the brace means is extended, the leaf will be held in precise coplanar arrangement with the table top.

However, due to the tendency of wood to expand when its moisture content increases and to contract when its moisture content decreases, considerable difliculty has lbeen experienced with such assemblies in the past as a result of variations in the moisture content of the tables after they leave the factory. If the wood expands, the

leaf will sag when the brace is fully extended; and if the wood contracts, the leaf will come into coplanar relationship with the table top before the brace means is fully extended, whereby it sometimes happens that the leaf cannot be brought to a position in which it will be supported by the brace means, and it sometimes happens vthat the securing meansfor one bracket or the other will be partlyv or wholly torn free from the wooden part engaged thereby. v

In the past, under such circumstances, it has been necessary to remove one or both brackets from their associated table parts andeither shift them to new positions with respect to the table parts or plug the original screw holes and reassemble the supporting means in substantially its original relation to the xed parts of the table but in a new position relative to the leaf.

Itis the primary object of the present invention to provide novel means whereby, without changing the positions of the securing means for either bracket, an adjustment of bracket position can be effected to compensate for either swelling or shrinkage of the table parts. A further object of the invention is to provide, in such an assembly, means for mechanically shifting a bracket, with extreme accuracy, relative to the means whereby such bracket is secured to an associated element.

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated n the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific ice 2 constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an adjustable leaf-supporting assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, associated with a drop-leaf table shown fragmentarily and in section;

Fig. 2 is a bottomV plan view of the supporting assembly mounted on a table which is shown fragmentarily;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the condition assumed by the associated parts as a result of expansion of the wooden parts;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a special bracket forming an element of my novel supporting means;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, but showing the bracket actually mounted on a table part;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an operating element of my improved adjustable bracket;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the bracket of Fig. 4 with the element of Fig. 6 associated therewithand partially broken away for clarity of illustration; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a moditied mounting of the supporting assembly.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7, it will be seen that I have fragmentarily illustrated a table indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprising an assemblage of fixed parts such as the legs 11, rails 12 and top 13, and a leaf part 14 hinged as at 15 to one edge of the tabel top 13. Support means for the leaf 14 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 16. Such support means comprises a bracket 17 having a base plate 18 perforated for the acommodation of screws 19 or other equivalent fastening means whereby said bracket may be secured, for instance, to the lower surface of the table top 13. The bracket 17 provides anchorage means 20 in accordance with accepted practice.

A second bracket assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 21, includes a body 22 formed with apair of slots 23 and 24 which are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the hinge 15. Said bracket body is further formed with a perforation 25 which is elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of the slots 23 and 24 and which, on that surface of the body which will be remote from the table part to which the bracket body is to be secured, is surrounded by an upstanding lip 26. The bracket body 22 provides an anchorage 27 which, when the parts are assembled, will be disposed upon an axis parallel to the axis of the anchorage 20 and to the axis of the hinge 15. A toggle brace of conventional construction is indicated generally by the reference numeral 28 and has its opposite ends pivotally mounted upon the anchorages 20 and 27. A lever 29 is supported for oscillation by ears 343, 30 formed on the bracket body 22 and is actuable, in accordance with conventional practice, to break the toggle linkage 28.

An operating element for the bracket body 22 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 31 and, as is most clearly shown in Figs, 5, 6 and 7, said element is formed to provide a disc-like, dished body 32 providing a substantially cylindrical surface 33 which is receivable in the perforation 25 of the bracket body 22. The diameter of the surface 33 is substantially equal to the minor dimension of the perforation 25; and said member 31 is formed to provide a radially-projecting harige 34 which, when the surface 33 is in registering association with the boundary of the perforation 25, overlies and bears upon the lip 26 to limit relative movement between the bracket body 422 and the member 31 in one direction axially of the surface 33.

The body 32 of the member 31 is eccentrically formed V-to sag in 'themanner illustrated .in Fig. 3.

with a hole 35 for the accommodation of afastening screw 37; and said body is further formed with a narrow, elongated slot 36 offset from the axis of the body and'dia- :metri-cally-opposite/thehole 35.

With the leaf i4- extended and in `coplanarrelation -to .the .table top 413, ,and with the bracket i7 suitably vposi- :tioned and fixed to :the lower surface `=of the `table -top 413, and vwith the toggle -linkageft extended, thebracket body 22 is laid against the undersurface of the leaf 1M. Now, screws ligand 39 are 4passed through the `slots 23 and 24, respectively, at points substantially midway `between the ends of said slots, yandare turned down into the body of the 4,leaf .14 until their heads -bear against the exposed surface of the bracket ,body 22. Now, the-meniber 3l is seated in the perforation 25, it being noted that thefaxialadepth offthe member 35i is such that, when the flange 34 engages the lip 26, the bottom ,surfacey of the bodyZ is :substantially in contact Ywith the vsurface of the leaf -;14. ,The errangem ent' of 4the member 31 will be substantially that illustrated in Fig. 7. The screw 37 is now passed through Vthe hole ,35' and is turned down into the body of the leaf 1,4 -until its head engages the exposedsurface -of the -body of the member 31. If the screws 37, 38and 39 are turned down tightly, it will be perceivedithatthe bracket body 22 will be fixedly secured to the fleaf ligand, so long as the moisture content of the wooden table parts does-not vary suiiciently to produce any `substantial change vin the vdimensions of those parts, -the leaf 'supporting mechanism `will operate satisfactorily withoutl adjustment.

If, however, the wooden parts swell substantially after thee-,Supporting mechanism has `thusbeen assembled therewith, the distance from the axis of the hinge to the points of engagement of the screws 37, 38 and 39 will increase; and, since the distance vbetween the anchorage points l2t) and-'27 ,is invariable, the leaf 14 will be caused When such va condition arises, thescrews 38 and 39`will be backed -slightly .away from the bracket body 22 and the screw 37 will bebackedfslightly away from vthe body .32 of the member 31. vNow, a tool such as, for instance, the blade .ofa screwdriver 'will be inserted in the slot 36 and `a force will be exerted thereon in a direction to turn the member 31 in a .clockwise direction about the `axis of the screw 37. In some instances, such a turning force may be applied manually; .or in some instances it may be desirable to tap the shank of the tool with Va light hammer. Clockwiserotational adjustment of the member 31 will shift the nbracket body 22 towardthe hinge axis 15, thereby lifting .the zleaf; and such rotational adjustment will Ybe ,continued until the leaf is brought into precise coplanar relation with the table top 13, whereafter the screws 37, .f3.8 land 39 will 'be retightened to clamp the bracket .body'22 Yin its new position of adjustment.

If, on other hand, the wooden parts should shrink, the member 31 will .be similarly adjusted in the opposite direction to shift the bracket :body 22 away from the hinge axis l5.

Preferably, the Shanks of the screws 38 and 39 will have, in the regions received within .the slots 23 and 24, diameters substantially equal tothe .minor dimensions of the respective slots, whereby said screw shanks will accurately guide the bracket body 22 during its abovedescribed adjustment. Preferably, as well, the slots 23 and 24 will be symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of theplane of movement of the elements of the `toggle linkage, which plane, ofcourse, is normal to the under- Qsurfaces'of the table top 13 and leaf i4.

their securing means;v but the provision of the member '31,., received in .the obroundeperforation 25 makes" possible an ease and accuracy of adjustment which cannot be attained in the absence of some element equivalent to the member 31 wherebya camming action is attained.

In Fig. 8, I have shown the same parts assembled in a diiierent manner, the base 1S of the flange 27 being secured to the rail l2 of the table lb rather than to the undersurface of the table top 13.

I claim as my invention:

-l. For use with a table comprising certain stationary .parts and a .leaf hinged to one of said stationary parts, a support for such a leaf comprising a Tiirst bracket, means for securing said first bracket to one of said stationary parts, a secondy bracket, 'means for securing said second bracket to said leaf, and brace means operatively connecting said brackets, the securing means for one of said brackets including an element mounted for eccen- 'tric adjustment about a fixed point of attachment to its .table element, and coacting -with said one zbracket, when so adjusted, to shift said ,one bracket, relative to'said fixed point, toward or away from the other bracket.

2. For use with a table comprising certain stationary parts and a leaf hinged to -one of said stationary parts, a support for such aleaf comprising a first bracket, means for securing said first bracket to one of said stationary parts, va second bracket, means for securing said second .bracket to said leaf, and brace means operatively connecting said brackets, -one of said brackets being formed with two slots elongated in directions parallel with said brace means and with a perforation elongated in a direction transverse with respect .to the direction of elongation of said slots, the .securing means for said one bracket comprising an clement penetrating each of said slots for fixed engagement with the associated table part, each such element snugly fitting its slot transversely but having, in its portion engaged in its slot, a dimension substantially less than that of its slot in the direction ot' elongation of said slot, a member seated in sind perfor-,u tion and havinga substantially cylindrical surface registering with the boundary Vof .said perforation, said cylindrical surface having a diameter substantially equal to the dimension of said perforation in the direction of elongation of said slots, and an element eccentrically penetrating said member for fixed engagement with said last-named table part, said member being rotationally adjustable `about said .last-named `element.

43. The .combination with a Ytable .comprising certain fixed, parts and Va leaf'part hinged to one of .said fixed parts, ofaleaf .support comprising afirst bracket, means securing said first bracket to one of 4said'iixed parts, 'a second bracket, means securing said second .bracket `to said leaf, and brace means operatively connecting said brackets, one of vsaid brackets being :formed with guide umeans elongated in a -direction parallel with a Vplane normal .tosaid leaf! and including said 'brace means, and with a perforation elongatedrin a direction transverse to the direction of Yelongation of said kguide means, the

means securing said one .bracketcomprising means :xed with respect to the associated table part and .operatively engaging said guide means, -a member vseated in said perforation `and having a-substantialbl cylindrical'surface registering with the boundary Vof said perforation, said cylindrical surface having ardiameter substantially equal to the .dimension .of said perforation'in theV direction of elongation of said guide means, andan element penet- $3 respect to said anchorage means and elongated in a direction transverse with respect to the axis of said anchorage means, said body further being formed with a perforation elongated in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of elongation of said slots, a member formed to provide a substantially cylindrical surface having a diameter substantially equal to the minor dimension of said perforation, said member being seatable in said perforation with its cylindrical surface in registry with the boundary of said perforation, means carried by said member and engageable with a surface of said body when said cylindrical surface is in such registry to limit relative movement of said member and said body in one direction axially of said surface, said member having a hole therethrough eccentric with respect to said surface, a headed screw for each of said slots, and a headed screw for said hole.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

